ISO’s 101
By Scott Sekinger
Knowing how to convert iso to a form of media that can be very helpful. Before I tell you how to do let me tell you what an iso is. An ISO is a file that is used to create CDs /DVDs that can be used from creating bootable media, or any kind of that uses CDs /DVDs with special software you can also put create USB key using ISOs. I will discuss how to do both in Windows 10 using the built-in software.
Before you can create media using an ISO you need to obtain or create an ISO file. This for the most part I will leave up to you. Since most ISOs are used to create bootable media, I will use Linux Mint as an example.
To create a CD / DVD from the ISI file do the following.
- Put the CD or DVD into your Optical drive, which you use to create the media. Browse to where you saved the file to and check the size of the file ISO to determine. If the file is 700MB or less then you can use a CD. If the file is greater than 700MB then you will have to use a DVD.
- Click on the ISO image you want to burn on CD
- On the top of the screen of File Explorer, click on Manage, under Disc Image Tools
- Click on Burn
- Wait until the process is complete and you’ll have your ISO image burned on a CD or DVD
To Create a USB key from an ISO, do the following:
- Download a program called Rufis from https://rufus.ie/en_IE.html. Rufus is a utility that helps create bootable USB flash drives.
- Put USB flash drive in to computer. Make sure it is big enough for the ISO to create the media on.
- Select the device you want to create the bootable media on.
- Select the ISO to create the bootable USB key on by pressing the Select button and browsing to the location of the ISO file.
- Click on Start. Wait until it is done to remove the drive The screen should look like the below
- Answer OK to overwrite if needed.
- Click on Close.
- Test out the USB flash drive by booting to it.
I hope you find this article useful.